The CEP wants to allow voters to register online

In light of the slow voter registration process in Haiti and the difficulties in finding infrastructure to enable Haitians living abroad to participate in the electoral process, the CEP is establishing a legal framework for online voter registration. Article 59 of the new version of the electoral decree states that the CEP can now set up a digital platform for this purpose.<\/p>

Since the launch of the voter registration process across the country on July 20, the electoral council has recorded 810,696 voters as of Monday, October 12, 2026. This October 12 officially marks the end of this process, pending a possible extension of this date. If the electoral calendar is to be respected, the election would be held with 810,696 voters out of an electoral population of about 7 million people of voting age who hold a national identification card.<\/p>

Furthermore, the CEP has never managed to find a solution to allow Haitians living abroad to participate in the electoral process. Participation that is guaranteed by the electoral decree.<\/p>

This reality drives the electoral council to bring a new touch to its operations. The CEP took advantage of the amendment of the electoral decree to introduce into the document the possibility for voters to register either in person or online.<\/p>

According to Article 59 of the new version of the electoral decree published on October 6, 2026, "the citizen presents in person at the Registration and Voting Center (CIV) with their valid national identification card (CIN) or the identification certificate issued upon request by the ONI containing the unique national identification number (NINU) and their photo in order to be registered on the electoral roll in accordance with the voter registration procedures. The citizen can also register electronically on the electoral roll through the CEP's digital platform, equipped with their valid CIN. This digital platform meets all international biometric security standards ensuring the security of citizens' data and the integrity of the registration."<\/p>

The electoral roll, as specified in Article 57, is composed of all eligible Haitian citizens assigned to a polling center. "It is developed from the database of the civil registry managed by the ONI. Information from the ONI is used by the CEP for updating, verifying, and consolidating the electoral roll."<\/p>

Article 58 of the document states that the CEP establishes Registration and Voting Centers (CIV) throughout the territory to create the electoral roll for the upcoming election and to enable eligible Haitian citizens to vote in the next elections.<\/p>

Even though the CEP does not communicate enough on this aspect, it is important to emphasize that according to the electoral decree, "registration is mandatory for the exercise of the right to vote," (Article 59.1). In other words, even with a valid identification card, someone who is not registered as a voter will not be able to vote on election day.<\/p>

For the moment, the CEP has not yet launched this digital platform for voter registration. The electoral decree only provides the electoral institution with the legal framework to do so.<\/p>

A source at the CEP told Nouvelliste that there will be biometric security parameters on the digital platform to prevent attempts at fraud.<\/p>

With the publication of the new version of the electoral decree, the CEP also intends to modify the dates in the electoral calendar, notably the one for December 13, which is scheduled for the first round of elections.<\/p><\/div>